Motivation Monday: Go the Distance

I got a really awesome text message from a friend this weekend. He told me to turn on ABC Family, that Hercules was on, and I should watch it. Well, Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies, so he didn’t have to tell me twice. It had been a while since I watched it, and it was a nice way to spend my Sunday afternoon.

Side note: if you’ve never seen this masterpiece, it’s on Netflix. Go watch it ASAP.

To me, Hercules is one of those Disney movies that gets better as I get older. I find humor and inspiration in the little things that I never noticed as a kid. And like any Disney movie, Hercules is jam-packed with an awesome soundtrack. If you asked me to pick a favorite, I don’t know if I could; there’s just so many to choose! But one song stands out as a top contender: “Go the Distance.”

After a disaster in town, and being called a freak multiple times, a young Hercules tells his mortal (adopted) father that he feels like he doesn’t belong, and that he may indeed be a freak. Bless his heart, he just hasn’t figured out he’s a god yet. His father leaves him be, and young Herc is left to himself. Naturally, in true Disney style, he starts singing.

As soon as I hear the opening notes, I feel inspired to take on the world. Young Hercules is wise beyond his years here. He knows there’s something greater out there for him, but he hasn’t found it yet. And to do that, he’s going to have to beat the odds and go the distance, and be fearless, proud and strong along the way. When he does, he’ll find his hero’s welcome right where he belongs.

We all have our own versions of heroes’ welcomes, though they may be vastly different from what Hercules imagined. But no matter what we dream of, to get there, we have to go the distance, too. We’ve got to be fearless, proud and strong. Sometimes we have to beat the odds and fight some monsters ourselves. Our monsters may not be multi-headed Hydra or river monsters, but they’ll probably try to kick our butts just as hard. If we want our hero’s welcome badly enough, we’ll go as far as it takes to earn it. And then we’ll embrace and enjoy it, because we went the distance to get it.

I didn’t expect to have an inspired moment watching a Disney movie on TV on a Sunday afternoon. But it was a welcomed surprise, and definitely helped me set the tone for my week ahead!

So today, on this Monday, make every mile worth your while. Go the distance and be awesome. And if it helps, blast this song in your car on your drive to work. You may get a few strange looks, but it’s worth it. Not that I speak from experience or anything.

P.S. Michael Bolton sang a version of “Go the Distance” that’s pretty rad, too.

Do you have a favorite Disney movie? What’s inspiring about it? Where do you find inspiration in your life?